Stepping latch and relay



y 16, 1957 J. FILKO ETAL 3,320,560

STEPPING LATCH AND RELAY Filed Oct. 24, 1965 United States PatentOfifice 3,320,560 Patented May 16, 1967 3,320,560 STEPPING LATCH ANDRELAY John Filko, River Forest, and Carl Fagiano, Chicago, 11].,assignors to F & B Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 115., a corporationof Illinois Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,782 11 Claims. (Cl.335-468) The present invention relates generally to stepping mechanismsand, more specifically, to lock-in stepping relays of the alternate makeand break type.

In various remote controlling applications, it is desirable for contactsto be alternately opened and closed responsive to successive electricalimpulses. More specifically, it is desirable to provide relays of thetype in which each relay is alternately latched in one condition ofoperation and unlatched for movement to another condition of operationupon successive energizations of the relay responsive to the applicationthereto of successive electrical impulses so that the contacts thereofare alternately opened and closed. One typical use of such relays is inmotor reversing circuits, such as are commonly used in garage dooroperators. Such relays also find advantageous utilization in machinetool applications, communication applications, photocopy machineapplications, and the like.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved stepping mechanism. Another primary object is to provide a newand improved stepping relay. More specifically, it is an object toprovide a lock-in stepping relay of the alternate make and break type.In this connection, it is an object to provide a relay which isalternately latched in one condition of operation and unlatched formovement to another condition of operation upon successive energizationsof the relay.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved stepping relay which finds particular advantageous utilizationin remote controlling applications wherein contacts are to bealternately opened and closed responsive to successive electricalimpulses.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedstepping relay which employs a single energizati-on coil.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved stepping relay characterized in its simplicity,inexpensiveness, ease of construction, and economical operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the attached detailed description.

In one form of the present invention, a stepping relay is provided whichincludes an electromagnet adapted to be energized for operation of therelay and an armature mounted for movement between first and secondpositions relative to the electromagnet. Means are provided for urgingthe armature toward the first position and the armature is moved to thesecond position responsive to energization of the electromagnet.Latching means are provided which are operable to latch the armature ina third position intermediate the first and second positions responsiveto movement of the armature from the first position to the secondposition and then back toward the first position and operable to releasethe armature for movement to the first position by the urging meansresponsive to movement of the armature from the third position to thesecond position. Finally, contact members are associated with thearmature which are controlled in accordance with the position of thearmature relative to the electromagnet.

For the purpose of providing a detailed description of the steppingrelay constructed in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention, reference will now be made to the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a stepping relay constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left end elevational view of the relay shown in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 38 illustrate the successive relationships between a latch memberand a catch member of the relay of FIGS. 1 and 2 during operationthereof.

While the invention has been shown and will be described in some detailwith reference to a particular exemplary embodiment thereof, there is nointention that it be limited to such detail. Quite to the contrary, itis intended here to embrace all modifications, alternatives andequivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims. The invention will be described in theform of a stopping or latching relay. While the invention findsparticularly advantageous utilization in this form, it will be apparentthat it may take the form of any stepping or latching mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, astepping or latching relay 10 is shown which is constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention. The steppingrelay ineludes an electromagnet 12 having a winding 12a wound thereonwhich is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical impulses orthe like through appropriate terminals 12b. An armature 14 is mounted ona support bracket 16, upon which the electromagnet 12 is stationarilymounted, for pivotal movement about point 16a away from and toward theelectromagnet to respective first and second positions relative thereto.The right end of the armature 14, as viewed in FIG. 1, is connected to atab 16b, extending from the lower portion of the bracket 16, by a springmember '18 which urges the armature 14 to pivot away from theelectromagnet toward the first position. The armature 14 is caused topivot toward and into engagement with the electromagnet 12 to the secondposition responsive to energization of the coil 12a, the electromagnetdeveloping a sufiicient force of attraction to overcome the force of thespring 18.

For the purpose of alternately opening and closing desired circuitryresponsive to successive energizations of the coil 12a, a contactassembly 24 is mounted on the bracket 16 above and adjacent the armature14. The contact assembly 20 includes a pair of stationary contacts 29aand 20b and a movable contact 200 which is selectively moved intoengagement with the stationary contacts 20a and 20b to complete circuitstherewith. The contacts 20a-2tlc are adapted to be connected to desiredremote circuitry to control the operation thereof. The movable contact200 has an outwardly extending control arm portion 20d which extendsthrough a slot or aperture 22a provided in an actuating plate 22 carriedby the armature 14. When the spring member 18 functions to cause thearmature 14 to pivot away from the electromagnet 12 to the firstposition, the movable contact 20's is driven therewith into engagementwith the stationary contact 20a so that a circuit is completedtherebetween. Alternatively, when the electromagnet 12 is energized,causing the armature 14 to be pivoted to the second position, themovable contact 200 is moved with the armature into engagement with thestationary contact 20b so that a circuit is completed therebetween.

In keeping with the present invention, new and improved latching meansare provided for functioning upon successive energizations of the coil12a to alternately latch the armature 14 in a third positionintermediate the first and second positions, so that the movable contact200 is maintained in engagement with the stationary contact 20b, andunlatch the armature for movement by the spring 18 to the first positionrelative to the electromagnet, so that the movable contact 200 ismaintained in engagement with the stationary contact 20a. In theexemplary arrangement, the latching means includes a latch member 24, inthe form of a latch rod, mounted on the armature 14 and a catch member26 mounted on and extending upwardly from the bottom of the supportbracket 16, either the catch member or the latch member beingconstructed of a resilient material. The catch member 26 includes a pairof downwardly extending offset lip members 26a and 26b which extendoutwardly on opposite sides of the catch member 26 at an intermediateposition along the length thereof, the offset lip members 26a and 26bdefining a catch for the latch rod 24. The catch member 26 also includesan upwardly extending offset lip member 26c which extends outwardly ofthe catch member adjacent the lip member 26a. Finally, it will be seenthat the catch member 26 is curved or bent at the upper extremitythereof to define an upper camming surface 26d.

For the purpose of providing a better understanding of the steppingrelay constructed in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention, a description of the operation thereof will now be set forthin conjunction with FIGS. 3-8. It will be assumed that, initially, thelatch member 24 and the catch member 26 are unlatched, as shown in FIG.3, so that the stepping relay 10 is in the condition shown in FIGS. 1and 2. Thus, the armature 14 is in the first position relative to theelectromagnet 12 so that the movable contact c is in engagement with thestationary contact 20a and a circuit is completed therebetween. Whenanelectrical impulse is applied to the coil 12a of the electromagnet 12,the coil is energized so that the armature 14 is pivoted toward and intoengagement with the electromagnet 12 against the force of the spring 18to the second position. As the armature pivots toward the electromagnet,the movable contact 200 is moved into engagement with the stationarycontact 20b and the latch rod 24 is moved into engagement initially withthe upper side of the cam surface 26d and then with the outer surface ofthe lip 26a forming a part of the catch member 26. Since either thelatch rod 24 or the catch member 26 is constructed of a resilientmaterial, either the latch rod or the catch member yields resiliently,as the rod 24 is moved downwardly along the upper side of the camsurface 26d and the outer surface of the lip 26a, to permit the rod 24to move past the lip 26a, as shown in FIG. 4, to the extreme position,shown in FIG. 5, where the armature engages the electromagnet and thelatch rod engages the outer surface of the lip 260. At this time, thelatching means is conditioned to latch the armature in the thirdposition relative to the electromagnet. Upon denergization of the coil12a at the termination of the electrical impulse, the spring member 18causes the armature 14 to pivot away from the electromagnet 12 towardthe first position so that the latch rod 24 is moved upwardly into thecatch defined by the lips 26a and 26b of the catch member 26, as shownin FIG. 6. When the latch rod 24 is contained by lips 26a and 26b of thecatch member 26, the armature 14 is maintained in the third positionrelative to the electromagnet 12 so that the movable contact 29c ismaintained in engagement with the stationary contact 20b and thecomplete circuit is maintained therebetween.

Subsequently, when another electrical impulse is applied to the coil12a, the coil is again energized so that the armature 14 is againpivoted toward and into engagement with the electromagnet 12 to thesecond position. As the armature pivots toward the electromagnet thelatch rod 24 is moved downwardly out of the catch defined by the lips26a and 26b and into engagement with the inner surface of the lip 260,see FIG. 7. Again, either the latch rod 24 or the catch member 26 yieldsresiliently so that the latch rod moves out of latching relationshipwith the catch member. Upon deenergiz'ation of the coil 12a, the springmember 18 causes the armature to again pivot away from the electromagnettoward the first position. During this latter movement, the latch rod 24is moved upwardly into engagement with the under side of the cam surface26d (FIG. 8) and either the latch rod or the catch member resilientlyyields so that the latch rod is moved to the first position shown inFIG. 3. Consequently, the movable contact 20c is again maintained inengagement with the stationary contact 20a and the stepping relay 10' isconditioned for another cycle of operation.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the stepping relay 1t),constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention,functions to alternately latch its contacts in one position and unlatchits contacts for movement to another position responsive to successiveenergiza. tions of the relay.

What is claimed is:

1. In a stepping relay, the combination which comprises an electromagnethaving a coil adapted to be energized for operation of the relay, anarmature mounted for movement away from and toward the electromagnet torespective first and second positions, means for urging the armatureaway from the electromagnet toward the first position, the armaturebeing moved toward the electromagnet to the second position responsiveto the energization of the coil, a latch member and a catch membercooperably operable to latch the armature in a third positionintermediate the first and second positions, cam means forming a part ofthe catch member operable when the armature is moved from the firstposition to the second position for engaging the latch member andconditioning the latch member to move into latching relationship withthe catch member when the armature is thereafter moved toward the firstposition by the urging means, cam means forming a part of the catchmember operable when the armature is moved from the third position tothe second position for engaging the latch member and causing the latchmember to move out of latching relationship with the catch member, andcontact members associated with the armature and controlled inaccordance with the position of the armature relative to theelectromagnet.

2. In a stepping relay, the combination which comprises an electromagnethaving a coil adapted to be energized for operation of the relay, anarmature mounted for movement away from and toward the electromagnet torespective first and second positions, resilient means for urging thearmature away from the electromagnet toward the first position, thearmature being moved toward the electromagnet to the second positionresponsive to energization of the coil, a rod-like latch member mountedon the armature for movement therewith and a catch member secured to theelectromagnet cooperably operable to latch the armature in a thirdposition intermediate the first and second positions, the catch memberhaving a pair of lip members projecting outwardly from opposite sidesthereof in a direction away from the armature to define a catch, cammeans operable when the armature is moved from the first position to thesecond position for engaging the latch member and conditioning the latchmember to move into latching relationship with the catch when thearmature is thereafter moved toward the first position by the resilientmeans, cam means operable when the armature is moved from the thirdposition to the second position for engaging the latch member andcausing the latch member to move out of latching relationship with thecatch, and contact members associated with the armature and controlledin accordance with the position of the armature relative to theelectromagnet.

3. In a stepping relay, the combination which comprises an electromagnethaving a coil adapted to be energized for operation of the relay, anarmature mounted for movement away from and toward the electromagnet torespective first and second positions, means for urging the armatureaway from the electromagnet toward the first postions, the armaturebeing moved toward the electromagnet to the second position responsiveto energization of the coil, a rod-like latch member associated with thearmature for movement therewith and a catch member associated with theelectromagnet cooperably operable to latch the armature in a thirdposition intermediate the first and second positions, the catch memberhaving first and second lip members projecting outwardly on oppositesides thereof in a direction away from the armature to define a catch,the catch member having a third lip member projecting outwardly on thesame side as the first lip member in a direction toward the armature andhaving a curved upper edge defining a cam surface, the latch memberengaging the cam surface, the first lip member and the third lip memberin that order when the armature is moved from the first position to thesecond position so that the latch member is conditioned to move intolatching relationship with the catch when the armaure is moved towardthe first position by the urging means, the latch member moving out oflatching relationship with the catch and into engagement with the thirdlip member when the armature is moved from the third position to thesecond position, the latch member engaging the cam surface when thearmature is moved from the second position the first position, andcontact members associated with the armature and controlled inacccordance with the position of the armature relative to theelectromagnet.

4. The relay as recited in claim 3 wherein the catch member isresilient.

5. The relay as recited in claim 3 member is resilient.

6. A stepping mechanism comprising a support, a member mounted on thesupport and movable between first and second positions, a latch attachedto the movable member and a catch attached to the support, said catchhaving means for catching said latch to hold the movable member in athird position intermediate said first and second positions when saidmovable member is urged toward said first position after having movedfrom said first position to said second position and for not catchingsaid latch when said movable member is urged toward said first positionafter having moved from said intermediate poistion to said secondposition.

7. A stepping mechanism comprising an armature, means responsive to anelectric current for urging the armature to a first position in theabsence of an electric wherein the latch current and to a secondposition in the presence of an electric current, a latch attached to thearmature and a catch attached to said means, said catch having means forcatching said latch to hold the armature in a third positionintermediate said first and second positions when said armature is urgedtoward said first position after having moved from said first to saidsecond position and for not catching said latch when said armature isurged toward said first position after having moved from saidintermediate position to said second position.

8. The stepping mechanism of claim 7 wherein said first mentioned meanscomprises an electromagnet mounted on a bracket pivotally supportingsaid armature and resilient means connected between said bracket andsaid armature to urge said armature away from said electromagnet.

9. The stepping mechanism of claim 8 further including first and secondelectrical contacts mounted on said bracket and a third electricalcontact mounted on an arm connected to said armature, said thirdelectrical contact engaging said first electrical contact when saidarmature is in said first position and engaging said second electricalcontact when said armature is in said second and intermediate positions.

10. The stepping mechanism of claim 7 wherein said means for catchingthe latch includes means responsive to the movement of the latch whenthe armature moves from the first to the second position forconditioning the catch to catch the latch when the armature next rnovestoward said first position.

11. The stepping mechanism of claim 10 wherein said means responsive tomovement of the latch includes a first cam means engaging the latch whenthe armature moves from said first to said second position for movingthe catch to a position where it will catch the latch when the'armaturenext moves toward said first position and a second cam means engagingthe latch when the armature moves from the intermediate position to thesecond position for moving the catch to a position where it will notcatch the latch when the armature next moves toward said first position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,458,311 1/1949Staats 20087 X 2,811,601 10/1957 Somers 20087 2,830,236 4/1958 Reynolds20087 X BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. I. J. BAKER, AssistantExaminer.

1. IN A STEPPING RELAY, THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES AN ELECTROMAGNETHAVING A COIL ADAPTED TO BE ENERGIZED FOR OPERATION OF THE RELAY, ANARMATURE MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT AWAY FROM AND TOWARD THE ELECTROMAGNET TORESPECTIVE FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, MEANS FOR URGING THE ARMATUREAWAY FROM THE ELECTROMAGNET TOWARD THE FIRST POSITION, THE ARMATUREBEING MOVED TOWARD THE ELECTROMAGNET TO THE SECOND POSITION RESPONSIVETO THE ENERGIZATION OF THE COIL, A LATCH MEMBER AND A CATCH MEMBERCOOPERABLY OPERABLE TO LATCH THE ARMATURE IN A THIRD POSITIONINTERMEDIATE THE FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, CAM MEANS FORMING A PART OFTHE CATCH MEMBER OPERABLE WHEN THE ARMATURE IS MOVED FROM THE FIRSTPOSITION TO THE SECOND POSITION FOR ENGAGING THE LATCH MEMBER ANDCONDITIONING THE LATCH MEMBER TO MOVE INTO LATCHING RELATIONSHIP WITHTHE CATCH MEMBER WHEN THE ARMATURE IS THEREAFTER MOVED TOWARD FIRSTPOSITION BY THE URGING MEANS, CAM MEANS FORMING A PART OF THE CATCHMEMBER OPERABLE WHEN THE ARMATURE IS MOVED FROM THE THIRD POSITION TOTHE SECOND POSITION FOR ENGAGING THE LATCH MEMBER AND CAUSING THE LATCHMEMBER TO MOVE OUT OF LATCHING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CATCH MEMBER, ANDCONTACT MEMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARMATURE AND CONTROLLED INACCORDANCE WITH THE POSITION OF THE ARMATURE RELATIVE TO THEELECTROMAGNET.